India has approximately 25% of the blind population of the world - something in excess of 12 million people, young and old. EHA is committed to reducing the amount of blindness in India.

Eye care has always been a 'core' activity of EHA's programs since it was founded in late 1969. Several of the 12 founding hospitals had established reputations for quality eye care and 'eye - camp' programs. EHA in 2002 had ten year - round eye programs and eleven ophthalmologists.

Eye care teams include the ophthalmologists, trained eye technicians and specialist nurses. EHA's eye care is led by the Coordinator of Eye Services, Dr. Sydney Thyle, MBBS, MS (Opth.), DOMS. He has served with EHA since 1981; after resigning from his lectureship at Christian Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, Punjab.

EHA undertakes all surgery in a hospital environment (including the sponsored low - cost, or free 'eye-camps'). Microscope surgery and intra-ocular lens implants are standard procedures, leading to better resultant vision and shorter in-patient stays.

In 2001 EHA unveiled its 'Community Eye Care' program. This seeks to deliver a widely effective care program, affordable, to be utilized by everyone within the target population. This program is planned for implementation in eight eye units over a four phase training and introduction period.

The Community Eye Care Program involves curative, preventative and community based rehabilitation for the incurably blind. It is anticipated that a population of half a million near each eye unit will be screened in 3-5 years. 55,000 pounds is being sought from the donors to establish the pilot programme at the Duncan Hospital, Raxaul, Bihar.

Dr. Sydney Thyle summed up the work earlier in 2002 as, " The challenge to provide good eye - care will exist as long as the poor are there".